Brooder



July 29, 1952 M. KLAY 2,604,875

BROODER Filed June 20, 12149 2 SHEETS-SHEET l INVENTOR Menno .Klay

BY aim/14L ATTORNEYS July 29, 1952 M. KLAY 2,604,875

BROODER Filed June 20, 1949 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 INVENTOR Manna 16495;

BY MM ATTORNEYS Patented July 29, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BROODER Menno Klay, Salinas, Calif. Application June 20, 1949, Serial No. 100,220

4 Qlaiins. (01. 119-32) I This invention is directed to, and it is an object to provide, an improved chick brooder.

Another object of the invention is to provide a light-weight, knock-down, portable type brooder; the brooder being constructed in the main of corrugated cardboard or the like, and when dismantled being quite compact for shipping, carrying, or storage. This is a great advantage with respect to initial distribution by the manufacturer, and subsequent storage by the user during non-brooding seasons.

A further object of the invention is to provide a brooder wherein the major portion thereof is a foldable, but normally upstanding canopy of generally pyramidal configuration and comprising a plurality of relatively stiff triangular segments hinged together at adjacent edges and having hinged, depending flaps at their lower edges; there being a novel arrangement to detachably secure the flaps together at adjacent ends whereby to secure the canopy against folding and collapse.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a brooder, as above, wherein the securing arrangement also serves to support the brooder above ground to permit the chicks to enter or leave.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a brooder which includes a novel insert panel which frictionally and detachably engages in the canopy adjacent its upper end in supporting relation to a socket for an electric light globe which warms the brooder.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a practical brooder designed for ease and economy of manufacture, and one which will be exceedingly effective for the purpose for which it is designed.

These objects are accomplished by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the brooder assembled for use.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional elevation of the same, taken on line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view, detached, of the insert panel.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary sectional elevation showing the engagement of the insert panel with the canopy. taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional elevation showing the manner of securing each 2 supporting and attachment rod to the corresponding flap, taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the canopy as folded.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the folded canopy, with the portion below line 1-1 of Fig. 6 cut away.

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on the drawings, the brooder comprises an upstanding, symmetrically multisided canopy, indicated generally at I; such canopy being of pyramidal configuration and includ ing a plurality of triangular segments 2.

The segments 2 are hinged together, at adjacent edges, as at 3; the hinges 3 being alternately of inward and outward type so that predetermined halves of the canopy I can be accordion folded, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7.

A horizontally elongated, rectangular flap 4 is hinged, as at 5, to, and depends from, the lower edge of each canopy segment 2; the adjacent ends of the flaps 4 being substantially in engagement when the brooder is erected for use, as in Figs. 1 and 2.

Each flap 4 is fitted, along its low-er edge, with a supporting and attachment rod 6 secured to said flap by a substantially full-length tape hinge 1 whereby said rod is turnable relative to the flap.

At opposite ends, and beyond adjacent ends of the tape hinge I, each rod 6 is formed with a pair of relatively short, integral, normally depending end legs 8.

The adjacent end legs 8 of adjacent flaps 4 are normally but releasably secured together, in parallel relation, by rubber sleeves 9, which engage thereover from below. The sleeve-engaged pairs of end legs 8 not only maintain the flaps 4 in proper dependent relationship, but also serve as means to support the brooder above ground a predetermined distance for entry or leaving of chicks through the spaces ID.

The canopy I is fitted, internally and adjacent the top or apex thereof, with a normally horizontal, insert panel, indicated at H; such insert panel being remcvably mounted in the canopy as follows:

The insert panel II is multi-sided in matching relation to the canopy, and at its outer edges said panel engages, in snap-in relation, in a groove l2 depressed in the inside face of said canopy.

The insert panel H is fitted, centrally thereof, with a socket l3 for an electric light globe M which serves to illuminate and warm the inside of the brooder when it is in use; an electric cord l5 leading upwardly from the socket l3 through a top opening I 6 in the canopy.

The canopy I, including its segments 2 and the normally depending flaps 4, is formed of an inexpensive, relatively stifi material, such as corrugated cardboard, which permits the brooder to be manufactured economically and to be of light weight. The latter is especially desirable in knock-down or foldable type brooders which must be frequently handled. A further advantage derived from the use of corrugated cardboard is that a-number of the hinges 3 and 5 may be formed merely by die creasing the material.

When the brooder is to be dismantled andfolded for storage, the insert panel II is first snapped out of the groove l2, and said panel together with the socket l3, globe l4, and cord l5 are then all removed. Thereafter the rubber sleeves 9 are slipped ofi the legs 8, and the rods 6 are rotated a half turn until such legs extend inwardly along the adjacent ends of the flaps 4. See Fig. 6.

Thereafter, the canopy is collapsed with predetermined halves thereof accordion folded, in the manner shown in Fig. '7,

It will be evident that the brooder can be 001- lapsed and folded, as well as unfolded and erected, readilyand quickly by hand, and without the use of tools.

The invention provides an inexpensive and yet very practical brooder.

From the foregoing description it. will be readily seen that there has been produced such a device as substantiallyfulfills the objects of the invention, as set forth. herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail 1.

ing canopy including a plurality of segments hinged together for predetermined folding of said canopy, a hingedflap depending from the lower edge of each segment, supporting legs depending from the adjacent ends of the fiaps, and

means securing adjacent legs together; there be.-

ing a rod turnably secured along the lower edge of each flap, the corresponding legs being integral with said rod, and said securing means being a sleeve engaged on said adjacent legs.

2. A brooder comprising a normally upstanding canopy, of pyramidal configuration, including a plurality of segments hinged together at adjacent edges for predetermined folding of said canopy, a flap depending in hinged relation from the lower edge of each segment, a rod secured in turnable relation to and extending substantially-full length of the lower edge portion of each flap, and integral legs on the ends of each rod normally depending from the corresponding flap, said rod securing means being a substantially full-length folded-over tape secured to the flap along the lower edge of the latter and forming a loop through which the rod. turnably projects.

3. A brooder comprising a normally upstanding canopy. of pyramidal configuration, including a plurality of segments hinged together at adiacentedges for predetermined folding of said canopy, a flap depend-ing in hinged relation from the lower edge of each segment, a rod secured in turnable relation to and extending substantially full length of the lower edge portion of each flap, integral legs on the ends of each rod normally depending from the corresponding flap, and means detachably securing adjacent legs togather in parallel; said securing means being sleeves of resilient material closely embracing the legs.

l. In a brooder which includes an upstanding canopy comprised of a plurality of segments hinged for folding, a flap depending from the lower end of each segment, legs mounted on and depending from the adjacent ends of the flaps in close parallel relationship and a sleeve removably fitted over each pair of adjacent legs.

MENNO KLAY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

